Category: Albany

Primus Awards GOLDEN TICKET to Albany, NYC and Rochester

Oompa Loompa Doopity Doo, has an announcement for you! Primus has announced their fall tour which includes Golden Ticket dates in Albany (10/24), New York City (10/31) and Rochester (11/02).

If you didn’t get the hints, this tour will be Willy Wonka themed with the moniker “Primus and the Chocolate Factory”.

Alongside the tour Les and friends will release their 8th studio album, aptly named “Primus and the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble“. The announcement also came with a first listen of the debut single “Pure Imagination”. These are sure to be hot golden tickets, don’t delay!

Primus Fall Tour 2014

October 22 – Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre
October 24 – Albany, NY @ Palace Theatre
October 25 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
October 26 – Burlington, VT @ Flynn Center for Performing Arts
October 28 – Waterbury, CT @ Palace Theater
October 29 – Baltimore, MD @ Hippodrome
October 31 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
November 1 – New Brunswick, NJ @ State Theatre
November 2 – Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory
November 3 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
November 5 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House
November 7 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
November 8 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
November 9 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
November 11 – Miami Beach, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater
November 12 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
November 14 – Biloxi, MS @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
November 15 – Austin, TX @ ACL live at the Moody Theater
November 16 – Dallas, TX @ The Majestic Theatre
November 17 – San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theatre
November 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Orpheum Theatre Phoenix
November 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre LA

July 29, 2014
Bruno Mars Dazzles Times Union Center

Albany was buzzing with anticipation Sunday night at the Times Union Center as Bruno Mars was set to make his debut appearance in Upstate N.Y, bringing his “Moonshine Jungle Tour” to the Tri-State area.

Bruno Mars – Times Union Center – July 2014

Fans of all ages came out for this highly anticipated, sold out concert. Some seats opened up right before the show, but were gone just as fast with some lucky fans even scoring front row seats.

After a short delay letting fans into the arena in the hot muggy weather, all was forgotten when this concert started.

Multi-talented Bruno Mars and his band are some of the best live entertainer’s I’ve seen on stage this year. A very charismatic bunch of musicians. This concert had a little of everything – pyro blasts, fire, sparklers and an awesome light show.

Both artists were very interactive with the crowd.

Aloe Blacc was the opener for this show in Albany. He and Pharrell Williams have rotated dates throughout the tour in select cities.

Aloe started the night off with the song “You Make Me Smile”. Some fans were still filing in from the delay during this song. The song broke down into a dance break, which prompted Blacc to ask the crowd “who likes to dance?”. He paused for the crowd’s response, then Aloe himself broke out into a dance.

The crowd stood for the rest of the performance when the song “Here Today” started.

Blacc now sheds his jacket and tells the crowd “here’s an oldie but goodie” and sings the song “I Need A Dollar”. Aloe had the crowd on their feet clapping along to his hit “The Man”. Blacc talked about his other hit “Wake Me Up”, saying, “I had these words that I wanted the whole world to hear”, and proceeded to talk about hooking up in the studio with DJ Avicii in 2013 to record the track.

Blacc was a great opener. The only drawbacks that I had were that his mic was a little bit low and he was drowned out by his band. Also, I didn’t like the plain black curtain behind him. I think a logo or themed curtain for intimacy as a back drop would have felt like more of a big deal, while the black made it seem like he was not that important.

Blacc signed CDs and T-shirts at the merchandise booth after his performance for fans.

Bruno Mars – Times Union Center – July 2014

Excitement from the fans started to rise as Bruno Mars was set to take the stage next. Concertgoers broke out into a wave around the arena in anticipation for Mars to come out.

After a quick intermission to set up the stage for Mars, the lights went out to a thunderous, almost deafening, roar. Everybody’s attention was now focused on the gold palm tree themed curtain, just waiting for it to fall as the beat started for the song “Moonshine”.

As the beat played, Bruno Mars welcomed the crowd to the moonshine jungle. A pyro blast cued the curtain to fall to Bruno and his band, jamming the first verse of the song.

Before he sang the song “Treasure”, Mars said how it was his first time in Albany, N.Y as a giant mirror ball lowered from the ceiling above the stage.

Mars then went into a medley of different songs, including the Beatles hit “Money (That’s What I Want)”, “Billionaire” (Bruno’s song with Travie McCoy), which drew loud cheers from the crowd, “Pony” (Ginuwine) and “Ignition” (R.Kelly).

Bruno blended his songs “If I Knew” and “Runaway Baby” by asking the crowd to sing along with him by hitting certain notes. Then, Mars asked the crowd to repeat the words “do you love me”. After having everyone repeat it, he asked for just the ladies to sing it. After singing it with all the women in the building, he answered them, “yes I do.” The screams from the ladies were insane.

When Mars teased the crowd that they were quiet, he said, “hey we can get quiet.” He and the band slowly faded down to silence, but were still dancing and snapping fingers like there was a beat still playing. Then Mars and the band slowly brought the volume back up; fans ate this up and just loved it.

Another funny moment happened at the end of the song “Nothing On You” (his song with B.o.B). Mars asked the guys to grab their lady’s hand, look into her eyes and say…”Bruno’s gonna do the talking tonight.” Mars then didn’t forget about the single ladies in the house. He said, “singles ladies don’t worry,” and he and his band shouted, “we’re here,” as they did a hip thrust gesture.

Bruno Mars – Times Union Center – July 2014

Mars then got serious and told the audience that his next song was the hardest song for him to write and was still the hardest for him to perform. He then played “When I Was Your Man” as cell phones lit up the whole arena during this song.

A minute-long keyboard solo led into the song “Grenade”, and finally, the smash hit “Just The Way You Are” ended the set.

During the last song, gold confetti fell from the rafters. It was an awesome scene. There was so much confetti it was like a white out in the middle of winter.

Mars introduced his whole band, while each member did their own signature dance as they were introduced.

The two-song encore started with Mars doing a drum solo, which led into the song “Locked Out Of Heaven” and wrapping up with “Gorilla”.

An amazing performance by Mars left me wanting more; he played about an hour and forty minutes it total. It’s nice to see Upstate N.Y. finally getting some different musical acts to this area who have never traveled here before, including Mars, Justin Timberlake and Paul McCartney. I hope this opens the door for more artist to come to our area for summer concert events in 2015 who would have not considered this area before.

July 26, 2014
Gypsy Punk Icons Gogol Bordello Played Host to a Melting Pot of Fans

A small congregation of people waited outside of Upstate Concert Hall on Tuesday, July 22nd. Much smaller than one might suspect, on a night helmed by gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello. But, more people did show for the performance as the night went on, possibly in part for the ‘Upstate Common Sense’ on tap behind the bar, instilling in the 500 plus crowd a feeling of liquid camaraderie. Gogol Bordello has a reputation for bringing a combo platter of life together for an all-inclusive party atmosphere, and by the end of the night, this was exactly the case. The gypsy punk band, with members from all over the world, brought quite the spectacle to Clifton Park once again.

The show opened with the raucous energy of Man Man from Philadelphia. Experimental rockers at their core, they descended onto the stage with a wall of sound and main singer/keyboardist Honus Honus presiding over the crowd in a sparkling hooded cape and his trademark mustache. With a hurried explosion of notes, Man Man started their set with what sounded like the middle of it. Cheering along at full intensity immediately, the crowd fell right in step. The four-piece switched instruments constantly, and between horns, strings and percussion, they welcomed the masses into their chaos. Pow Pow the drummer acted as de-facto conductor for the band and the audience, keeping the White Stripes meets Frank Zappa vibe at peak energy the entire set. By the end, the crowd was hungry for more.

The crowd exemplified the feeling of the night — the idea that no matter who you are, you would belong, here, at this show. People shirtless with multicolored LED gloves, or fedoras over dreadlocks, or metal shirts and ripped jeans, all were welcomed and more. The lights dimmed and the crowd coalesced into one singular being, eager and willing as Eugene Hutz, the leader of Gogol Bordello, took the stage. He vocalized the feeling of the night and asked the audience, “Where did we leave off last time? Let’s pick it up right there.” He started the show alone, with a single spotlight for the aptly titled “Illumination”, with the entire band joining him by the end. They played their dirty, infectious gypsy grooves in expert fashion, from a band honed by constant touring.

The sound was great, allowing the crowd to pick out all the intricacies of the band, from the extra percussion, to the accordion and violin solos, to the subtle, but powerful, five-part vocal harmonies. The presence of Pedro Erazo and Elizabeth Sun, the band’s MCs, extra percussionists, and hype man and woman, add to the deliberate crowd control that Gogol emits. At one point, Hutz anointed the congregation with a bottle of wine as he sang “Immigraniada” and brought the audience to a fever pitch. They left the stage, and not a soul moved, waiting for instruction to proceed. The show had stripped the audience down to it’s innocence, and the band came back to emulate this, starting their three song encore with “Lost Innocent World”.

One thing can always be certain of a Gogol Bordello performance: it will be an experience to remember. One of the hardest working bands in the business, and it shows, they continue to enthrall audiences and provide tasty morsels of world-class rock, punk and folk to keep the audience eating right out of their hands.

Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert

Set List: Illumination, Ultimate, Rise Again, Wonderlust King, Dig Deep Enough, Other Side of the Rainbow, Companjera, TC Hustle, Immigraniada, Mishto, Rise the Knowledge, Malandrino, Purple, Pala Tute, Sun Is On My Side, Not a Crime.

Encore: Lost Innocent World, Alcohol, Think Locally.

July 25, 2014
The Queens of the Stone Age Held Court at the Palace

Albany rocked on Sunday, July 13 when Queens of the Stone Age rolled into The Palace Theatre. Nearly 2,000 fans of diverse ages were remarkably well behaved while entertained by this band that has performed together since 1996.

The average rock show typically captivates with BIG personalities who look or behave in striking or outlandish ways. They generate audience excitement by talking to fans between songs or with an elaborate stage. Not QOTSA. (Or their opener, Brody Dalle, for that matter.) The Queens’ frontman, Josh Homme came across as somewhat unassuming. He definitely does not look like the average modern rock star, he appears clean cut with his short hair, simple clothes and lack of obnoxious tattoos. (Apparently he has 17 of them, but they aren’t the focus of his on-stage appearance). He had very little to say to fans during the show — most of what came out of his mouth were lyrics.

The visual focus of the show was definitely NOT on Homme or any other member of the band — it was on the light show. These guys have invested in great lights and a brilliant lighting tech. All this to take the focus off the band? I don’t know, but it worked. The lights were impressive. And, of course, the music was good. While their grunge roots run deep, this group’s talent lies in their ability to successfully incorporate a variety of styles. Lots of strong, cool bass backed by deep drums, screaming guitars and strong vocals. In their music you can hear The Ramones and Alice in Chains. Unfortunately, Homme’s great voice seemed somewhat hollow or muffled, and while that could have been an equipment issue, you couldn’t help to wish for more clarity so the lyrics could be clearly heard.

QOTSA’s opener shared a somewhat reserved stage presence. Brody Dalle, who is also Homme’s wife, led the group that warmed up Albany’s fans. Dalle’s fast, hard sound and “bad girl” appearance are reminiscent of Joan Jett, but like QOTSA, there’s not a lot of ego-mania going on. Dalle seemed almost uncomfortable on stage — rarely looking in the direction of the fans and taking a head-down type of approach. That didn’t bother the Albany crowd though, they were enthusiastic and maybe a bit surprised at how hard the lady played. She succeeded in getting fans psyched; they were on their feet from QOTSA’s first song to the last.

Set List: Keep Your Eyes Peeled, You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire, No One Knows, Avon, My God Is the Sun, Smooth Sailing, In the Fade, Hangin’ Tree, The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret, If I Had a Tail, Like Clockwork, I’m Designer, Make It Wit Chu, Fairweather Friends, Little Sister, I Sat By the Ocean, Sick Sick Sick, Go With the Flow
Encore: The Vampyre of Time and Memory, Monsters in the Parasol, A Song for the Dead

July 23, 2014
Albany Blues Musician and Teacher, Tom Healey is Dead

Albany blues musician and Albany High teacher, Tom Healey, died unexpectedly Monday, according to several news reports.

News of his passing has trickled across the Internet over the past several hours, prompting a flood of tributes on his personal Facebook page, and that of his band, The Tom Healey Blues Band.

Photo Credit: Wanda Callagy as shared on Tom Healey’s Facebook page

“Tom was one of the smartest and funniest men I have ever met,” stated Albany High math teacher, Michael Justice, on Healey’s personal Facebook page. “This school year I had the pleasure to eat lunch with Tom, Greg Baker, and my sister Jen just about ever day. It was my little slice of sanity in a crazy place. Tom’s unfiltered comments about all things Albany High and beyond were not to be missed. I will miss him dearly…”

A note from Dred Scott stated that Healey’s last performance was at a private show in Vermont this Friday.

In addition to his work as a blues musician, Healey taught social studies teacher at Albany High. Healey had only just retired from his teaching position.

July 22, 2014
New Name for Albany’s Red Square

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast and uprooted Red Square proprietor Francis Verret, along with scores of Louisiana families, from his home.

Verret’s been a resident of the Capital Region for nearly a decade now, having been the proprietor of Red Square for the past nine years. And, last night, he announced another change: the popular downtown Albany venue on Broadway is changing its name to the Parish Public House.

“It has always been the plan to open our kitchen and expand the business beyond just our live music events,” says Verret. “That plan has finally come to fruition with the launch of Parish Public House, which combines the quality, original live music events that Red Square has been known for with a Cajun-inspired restaurant and bar.”

On July 24, at 8 p.m. Parish Public House will host its own grand opening, presenting live music from Eric Lindell & Co.

Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Verret eventually settled down and purchased the Red Square in 2006. As the years progressed, he said, so did the vision of transforming the live music club into a Cajun-themed restaurant and bar; serving up tried-and-true Cajun specialties and Louisiana’s favorite cocktails. The menu promises a wide range of dishes, from a simple Po Boy to a richly flavored Étouffée, Jambalaya and Gumbo.

Verret explains that the new name is also inspired by his old home. A parish is the Louisiana equivalent to New York’s county.

“We’re going to build our own little Louisiana parish right here in downtown Albany,” says Verret, adding that the new place will feature “the food, community, spirit, and, well – spirits – that embody the Cajun culture that is celebrated around the world.”

Eric Lindell first appeared at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2005, a fact that missed by Verret. He said, Lindell makes the perfect complement to kicking off the Louisiana-themed venue.

Located at 388 Broadway, Parish Public House will be open for lunch and dinner service from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturday, with later bar hours. Live music will continue at the venue most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and an event menu will be available during shows.

Feature photo of Jeff Bujak performing at the Red Square last July.

July 17, 2014
Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Exodus Victory Lap Set, Will Include Albany Stop November 25

Earlier this year, thrash metal heavyweights Slayer, along with hardcore punk outfit Suicidal Tendencies, and fellow thrashers Exodus embarked on a brief tour in May – every show sold out. So back by popular demand a fall tour has been announced. The Scion presented tour will be stopping at the Washington Avenue Amory on Tuesday, November 25. The full tour dates listed below.

Slayer has been touring heavily the past two years with a controversial split with drummer Dave Lombardo, while Suicidal Tendencies have been on tour supporting last year’s critically acclaimed album, simply named, 13. Exodus reciently made headlines with their controversial split with frontman Rob Dukes who has since been replaced by Steve “Zetro” Souza, who fronted Exodus from 1986-1993 and 2002-2004. Guitarist Gary Holt will be on double duty with both Exodus and Slayer.

Tickets for the Albany show can be purchased here.

Tour Dates

Nov. 12 – Fox Theatre, Oakland, CA

Nov. 14 – The Forum, Los Angeles, CA

Nov. 15 – Comercia Theatre, Phoenix, AZ

Nov. 17 – Bricktown Events Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Nov. 18 – ACL Live, Austin, TX

Nov. 19 – Verizon Theatre, Dallas, T

Nov. 21 – Hard Rock Live, Orlando, FL

Nov. 22 – The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA

Nov. 23 – The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC

Nov. 25 – The Armory, Albany, NY

Nov. 26 – Sands Events Center, Bethlehem, PA

Nov. 28 – The Palladium, Worcester, MA

Nov. 29 – Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ

Nov. 30 – Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA

Dec. 02 – Agora Theatre, Cleveland, OH

Dec. 04 – Egyptian Room, Indianapolis, IN

Dec. 05 – The Fillmore, Detroit, MI

July 12, 2014
Paul McCartney Gets ‘Out There’ at the Times Union Center

Sir Paul McCartney had a highly anticipated and greatly publicized return to the stage took place at the Times Union Center in Albany on Saturday July 5^th. After cancelling a string of dates due to a virus McCartney had contracted overseas in May, the Out There tour’s new departure place became Albany, NY. McCartney fans can now rest easy as Paul assembled a 40 song, three-hour set that left no musical stone unturned, reaching into his plentiful Beatles, Wings, and solo catalog for a satisfying and awe-inspiring evening of music.

The diverse and excitable crowd greeted the dapper McCartney, who was dressed in blue blazer, with a massive truck rally applause. ‘Macca’s impressive and road tested group of musicians of the last twelve years immediately ascended the opening bars of the Beatles hit “Eight Days a Week”, barely audible over the massive response from the audience. While McCartney’s voice may contain some nicks and dings from fifty years of rock vocals, similarly to an antique, its patina only increases its value and emotional strength.

The first ‘movement’ of the concert contained McCartney on famed Hofner bass as well as multiple classic guitars and his band electrically charging through a series of rockers spanning his career. The fuzzy “Save Us” from 2014’s New, famed Beatles tracks, “All My Loving” and “Paperback Writer” and Wings favorites, “Let Me Roll It” and “Listen to What the Man Said”. “Let Me Roll It’” featured a slightly extended and rocking “Foxy Lady” jam in which McCartney showed off his ample soloing abilities on his multicolored Les Paul. McCartney spoke early and often, telling tales familiar to tour veterans, but awe-inspiring to first timers. McCartney has the innate ability to make a large venue feel like it’s a living room through his interactions and personable explanations of his songs.

The crowd was given a brief respite at this point in the proceedings so McCartney could sit at the grand piano for a series of big songs. The recent paean to his wife and Upstate native Nancy Shevell “My Valentine” was a fitting cool down period, to be followed by Wings rarity “1985” and then knocked out of the arena with the dynamic duo of “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “The Long and Winding Road”. McCartney cooed in a sweet falsetto, stroked the black and whites through every climax, and illustrated why he is the definitive performing rock artist in the world. I feel lucky to be attending this musical spectacle, and looking around, so does everyone around me as they stand in rapt amazement.

Paul McCartney concert experiences not only open up his catalog of amazing and enduring compositions, but also spotlight his prowess on multiple instruments and in variegated contexts. The acoustic set followed next with the band joining in on tasteful backing for most of it. The set also found McCartney standing solo on an ascending platform for “Blackbird” and his always stirring tribute to John Lennon off of ’82s Tug of War, “Here Today”. Highlights were the perfectly fitting and purely ‘Macca’ “On My Way to Work”, which made its live debut during this segment to great effect as well as a china-doll-delicate reading of the Beatles, “And I Love Her”.

Returning to the full band format, McCartney’s psychedelically painted piano was placed at center stage for the two power tracks on 2014’s release New. A bouncy version of the title song is played as well as a sturdy rendition of the regal “Queenie Eye”. Both songs illustrated how McCartney’s recent compositions nestle into the current of the set list next to his greatest songs, a testament to his longevity and unmistakable talents.

Following the stare down with “Queenie Eye”, the juicy central section of the concert revealed a series of Beatles tracks, many rare and all enthusiastically played by the band and beautifully received by the audience. Each song stacked on top of the next, raising the temperature and elevating the applause. Beatle tracks “Lady Madonna”, “All Together Now”, and the rarely performed “Lovely Rita” played with every set of hardcore Beatle fanatic lips in the venue as they mouthed the words.

The highlights kept coming with McCartney breaking out the arsenal of Wings most beloved songs intermingled with more Beatles! “Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite” was incredible; McCartney’s bass line pulled from the grooves of Sgt. Pepper in a legendary display, a reflection upon his instrumental innovations and ground breaking ideas. A tribute to George Harrison with a poignant version of “Something” began on solo Ukulele and concluded in a full band tribute. Stellar versions of “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da”, “Band on the Run” and “Back In the USSR” followed, peaking with the concluding “Live and Let Die” and “Hey Jude” finale. Explosions, lights, strobes, multimedia clips, banging instruments and sing-along smiles filled the concert’s concluding moments in disorienting joy.

Just when you think the 72-year-old McCartney and powerhouse band couldn’t possibly give any more to Albany, NY, they come out with two encores and a wedding proposal on the stage. The first encore was the perfect blend and a nod to the heads in the audience hailing from the ’60s and right up to the present day converts. “Day Tripper” and “Get Back” thematically sandwiched a rare and smoking “Hi, Hi, Hi”, an incendiary concert favorite from ’70s Wings performances. All the windows were down and the band had the pedal to the floor for this first set of encore numbers.

The second encore found McCartney on golden acoustic for a performance of “Yesterday”, expected, yet still magical. Following this performance, a Rochester, NY couple was engaged on the stage, with McCartney inviting the couple up due to their enthusiastic and persistent waving of signs in the audience. It worked and added up to a special and unique concert moment with the future groom singing a verse of “When I’m 64” with backing from the band. This dream moment for the couple was followed appropriately with a death-defying slide downhill into a threatening “Helter Skelter” by McCartney and band.

The final and unbelievable conclusion to the concert came with a flawless version of the triad of songs closing the Beatles 1969 LP Abbey Road, “Golden Slumbers”, “Carry That Weight”, and fittingly “The End”. The final moments found McCartney expressing with deep gratitude and warmth the parting lines of the concert, “And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make”.

Paul McCartney’s performance at the Times Union Center was a memorable and, I would say even, historic experience. The wealth of quality music, the lack of unpretentious stage antics and the genuine feeling of enjoyment emanating from the stage made the show an evening worthy of long-term reflection. The anticipation of a rare appearance Upstate in addition to the questions surrounding McCartney’s ability to tour, layered the concert in pretense. McCartney, like always, delivered, silenced critics, and gave his admirers reason to celebrate. There are not nearly enough superlatives available to be applied to Sir Paul McCartney and his continuing artistic growth, unbelievable concert experiences, and musical achievements.

July 12, 2014
An Interview with Dani Moz

At Los Angeles International Airport, blurry-eyed travelers stand upon moving walkways with luggage in tow as they head out from the solace among the clouds to the bustle on the ground. The average person walks about 3mph. A weary cosmopolitan standing atop this massive conveyor belt like a bag of produce moves twice as quickly, while seemingly standing still.

On a lazy Sunday, Dani Moz stands outside her childhood home in Delmar as, she too, continues to move while seemingly standing still. Handmade signs throughout the neighborhood advertise a garage sale. Her garage sale. A blue Chris Drury Rangers jersey hangs upon a rack with a $50 price tag spinning in the breeze. The hockey team out of New York just lost the Stanley Cup Finals the previous night to her hometown Los Angeles Kings. There it hangs, along with three racks of clothes, a number of different books and DVDs, CDs and sheet music – relics of her life as Danielle Mozeleski.

Atop a table outside her parent’s garage stands a box and several promotional headshots at the ready for the now-(former) television phenomenon to sign autographs. What she raises from the sale will help fund the album to which she’ll proceed to record on the West Coast in a few days. What she doesn’t sell today will go to charity.

The pedestrian looking tag sale is just another example of the constant motion in Moz’s life. As she stands on the driveway, hugging old friends and chatting with local high school kids, her singing career is moving. She is less than a month removed from the competition on NBC Television’s The Voice; but her schedule is no less hectic today.

Quite the contrary.

“It’s actually crazy, ’cause it hasn’t. The great thing about leaving the show when I did was the opportunities that have been thrown my way. I’m now doing music full-time, so my career in PR has been put to the side for now. Which is fantastic. I’ve really been focusing on music 100 percent.”

Before performing, Moz established a public relations career, ultimately landing a job at Boston Gardens, marketing for the venue that plays host to the Celtics and Bruins.  That experience has taught her the importance of timing.  The metal of a career takes shape once it emerges from the fires of the crucible. For Moz, that crucible was the weekly competition viewed by millions on national television. There are stars who have taken similar paths; Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, and Chris Daughtry. But, when considering the hundreds of contestants who have appeared on The Voice and similar shows, she knows the rate of success is against her. Even those who ultimately win, are not guaranteed fame.

“Being on a show like The Voice, there’s a big misconception that, just because you’re on that platform, things will come easy to you after the show. Or, if you make it to a certain point, [people] think ‘oh, you’re definitely going to be famous. Label deals are going to be thrown at you.’ And, to a certain degree, there is that. However, now more than ever is the time to work hard and hustle.

Now is not the time for me to sit back and wait for offers to fly,” said Moz. “Now is when I’m getting in everyone’s face to say, ‘Hey, I may not be relevant when the show starts back up again in September, so this is where I am now, and this is what my vision is. Help me bring it to life.’”

Moz is already separating herself among her peers. Speaking among friends from the show, she said she can already see fellow competitors bewildered from the lack of record deals coming their way.   “That’s where everybody has it twisted,” she said. So, once she was voted off the show, thanks to a strong will she attributes from her mother, she started hammering out her career. “I never take anything for granted… You’ve got to earn it. You got to hustle.” Even a short stay with her parents back home has called for radio interviews, performing at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and visiting her high school to speak to students about building character. Living in Los Angeles provides her the resources to pursue her dream, networking with producers and pitching her talents to a number of different labels.

Moz has an EP she previously released on iTunes in 2010. But, she said, her sound has evolved since, and she is ready to try out new material.

“I’m really excited to bring that to fruition, and to put all my new material together,” said Moz. “Definitely going to make a full Dani Moz album of my own songs, and shop it to labels, and see where it goes and takes me.”

“It’s all about having the passion and the drive.”

That’s what she said to members of Bethlehem Central’s choir and band groups. As she stood the students, Moz found her role switch to motivational speaker, as some questions asked of her where of students discouraged from not reaching their own goals. “I was in the same spot you guys are in,” she said, admitting that as a student she was never first chair, and she never earned the lead in all her four years in drama. But, she said she continued on because it was her passion.

“So, it’s not to say, if you’re not the best at what you’re doing, you can’t excel and flourish in that field.”

Before the sun rises the following day, Moz is at a terminal at Albany International Airport.  A mix-up with the flight has her on the phone with customer service.

Nothing is to get in her way.

Moz headlines Schenectady County’s SummerNight Beach Party with a performance at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 11. The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

July 7, 2014
Hearing Aide: Mirk “Run”

Mirk, an Albany-based R&B band released their third endeavor, Run, and the melodies are already too catchy. The most accurate description of the seven piece band is evolutionary. Between the band’s first two albums, Love and Grind, and now Run, no element is subtle. Maybe Mirk says they’re “running out of time,” but this album is proof of the exact opposite.

The band implemented many changes which are apparent from the first audible second of the album. Run opens with a ballad starting with new keyboard player James Rock and the band’s female backing vocalist Tara Merritt, whose voice is much more prominent – and rightfully so – than it ever has been before. Both Rock and Merritt are in high spirit and are set up to bring to the album the same energy of a dark, smokey bar room. This opening track, “Let it Go,” sets the intense, yet dynamic mood for the rest of the album.

As such, the addition of James Rock on keys is critical to the round sound of this album. Rock may be young, but he lives up to his name. He gives Run a rock ‘n’ roll angle. He’s not afraid to overplay, to voice full, nearly obnoxious, uninterrupted chords. And that’s a good thing because this allows the rest of the band, especially guitarist Mike Thornton, and bassist Kate Sgroi to weave around this soundscape, and experiment with far more notes than Grind saw. Grind is no failure. It’s a great artifact, and a clear stepping stone, but it can be surpassed, as Run proves.

Just seconds into this first track, “Let it Go,” lead vocalist Josh Mirsky comes in with the opposite of his usual trade: a backing vocal part to Merritt. He sings, “I ain’t got no money,” as a response to her aching voice, which might give a listener chills. Again, that barroom feel is heavy, but here the light fades up onto the rest of the band. They’re definitely not a mechanized backing track, either. They’re personable. They’re human. Instead of being “the band,” for a solo artist, the whole group works as a cohesive unit to bring an emotional element to the music, especially during “My City,” and “Marathon,” two previously released singles which made heavy use of Chris Russell’s sax.

This is reminiscent of Mirk’s previous endeavors. The soulful element of this album appears especially in tracks like “Turn Me On,” which listeners heard on Grind, such as “Butterscotch.” On the other hand, the album also contains some of Grind’s driving rock beats – provided by Stephen Struss — on songs like “Torture.” However, old Mirk fans – including those who first heard Love – aren’t the only ones that will be pleased with Run. The album furthers the band’s ability to try new things. Lovers of experimental bands like Muse might enjoy the title track, “Run,” whereas Billy Joel fans will relate well to “Love Above” – and even this, and the next track, “Crowd Surf,” turn into hip-hop in the style of someone like Weerd Science. But no matter what you’re listening to, the prime mover of Run is the fact that Mirk is not sticking to a specific theme – they’re writing what they want to write.

Run perfectly utilizes Mirk’s tried and true methods of mixed genre fun, with the evolutionary sounds of each instrument and vocal track. They are only getting better and we recommend seeing them in Albany before they’re out of town for good, because this band is only going to get bigger.

Key tracks: Let it Go, Love Above, Marathon

Run can be downloaded on iTunes, and physical copies are available on Mirk’s online store.

July 2, 2014